Testing device



Nov. 6, 1928.

W. H. TARVER TESTING DEVICE Origina JFQZ A h wur.

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ll 4 w M? Filed March 26, 1925 Patented 6, 1928. v

UNITED, STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. TARVER, F IPOOLER, GEORGIA.

. TESTING DEVICE.

- Application filed March 26, 1925, Serial No. 18,515. Renewed September 25, 1928.

This invention relates to certain improvements in testing devices and has relation more particula-rly'to a device of this general character especially designed and adapted for use in connection with the ignition system of an internal combustion engine or the like, and it is an object of the invention to provide a device of this character which is adapted to be electrically connected with the plugs of the cylinder of the engine or the high tension terminals to determine whether or not such elements are properly functioning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of this general character comprising the requisite number of testingele ments'together with a movable contact coacting with each of said elements, said contact bemg adapted for communication with the spark plug or coil terminal to be tested.

2 be mounted,

It is also an object of the-invention to pro-' vide a device of this kind which is adapted to if desired, upon the instrument board of a motor driven vehicle and to constitute a part of such equipment.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts of my improved testing device whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitely clalmed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein v Figure 1 is a fragmentary view in elevation illustrating, a testing device constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention and in applied position upon the instrument board or dash of a motor driven vehicle, a second position of the device beingindicated by broken lines;

Figure 2 is a View in elevation with a face plate removed of my improved device as herein set forth;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 8-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in top plan with the cover omitted.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, B denotes a box of requisite dimensions, the walls of which being formed of suitable insulating material. The box B, as particudesired to employ the larly disclosed in Figure l, is supported for sliding movement between the guideways 1 fixed to the dash, instrument board or other sultable part of a motor driven vehicle, the downward movement of the box Bbetween said guideways 1 being limited by the in-- wardly disposed lips 2 arranged .atthe lower ends of the guideways. Normally the box B is 1n its lowermost position or at a point wholly below the windshield W but when it is device the same is moved upwardl to the position indicated by broken lines in igure 1 whereby ready visual v employ the spring catches 3 of a conventional type. a

A .face wall 4 of the box B is removable being held in applied position by screws or otherwise as maybe preferred and the top wall 5 is hingedly connected atone end portion, as at 6, with the upper portion of an end wall 7 of the box whereby said top cover 5 may be readily moved into open position to permit re uisite access within the box and particular y to insert or remove the testing tubes or pencils T.

The lower portion of the box B is intersected by a horizontally disposed partition 8 also of insulatin material and which is provided therethroug with a series of longitudinally spaced openings 9. F

The tube or pencil'T is of a flash typenow in use and I WlSh it to be understood that I do not claim any part of said tube or pencil in itself to be a part of my present invention. The pointed portion of the tube or pencil T is adapted to be disposed from above through an opening 9 and when so mounted the electrode 10 thereof extends below the partition 8. When the tube or pencil T is in applied Inc whereby the applied tube or pencil T is efl'ectively maintained in applied position and at the same time against any rotary movement.

It is important that an applied tube or pencil T be held within the box B against move- 'ment independently thereof so that tlfe diametrically opposed light windows or openings 14 in the applied tube or pencil T will be maintained in register with the windows 15 in the face walls 4 and 16 of the box B so that requisite visual access may be had within the tube or pencil T fore or aft of the box B.

Freely mounted within the box B below the partition 8 is an elongated strip or member 17 'of insulating material and which has disposed therethrough the contact members 18 each of which being adapted to have contact with an electrode 10 of a tube or pencil T.

Threaded through the bottom wall 19 of the box B and preferably at the axial center,

of such'wall is an elongated shank 20 the outer end portion of which being provided with the wings 21 to facilitate requisite rotation being imparted'to such shank 20. The inner or inserted end portion of the shank 20, as herein disclosed, is in swiveled connection, as at 22, with the under surface of the member 17 and at substantiall the axial center thereof. Upon rotation o the shank 20 in one direction the contact members 18 carried by said member 17 will be brought into proper contact with the-electrodes 10 of the applied tubes or pencils '1 and upon rotation of the shank 20 in the opposite direction such contacts will be broken, said latter arrangement being normall maintained so that under general conditions the testing device is inoperative. y

The bottom wall 19 of the box B has disposed therethrough the contact members 23, each of which being in electrical connection through the medium of a conductor a with a contact member 18. Each of the contact members 23 exteriorly of the box B is adapted to have electrically engaged therewith a terminal of a conductor 12 the opposite endpor- ,tion of which being adapted to be electrically connected in any desired manner with the spark plug of an internal combustion engine or with a high tension coil terminal so that when so'oonnected the observation of the requisite applied tube or pencil T will indicate whether or not such part is properly functioning, it being understood that under proper conditions light will be emitted through the openings or windows 14 and 15 whereas if such part being tested is dead no illumination will occur. 1

It is to be understood that when the device is being employed for a test, and particularly in connection with the spark plugs of the motor, the box B is moved into its raised position whereas in testing the high tension current coil terminal this it not at all times necessary.

From the foregoing description it is thought to be obvious that a testing device constructed in accordance with my invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts hereinshown in carrying out my invention in practice except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim In combination with a vehicle including a dash and a transparent wall above the dash guide ways carried by the dash, a box supported in the guide ways for vertical movement from aposition where it lies wholly between the guides and against thedash to a position where it projects above the upper ends of the guides and partially confronts the transparent wall, means for supporting the box in either of said positions, the walls of the box paralleling the dash having alined pairs of sight openings, ignition testing iniplements within the box and having sight openings alining with the pairs of openings of said walls, and means associated with the box for connecting the. ignition testing implements of the box with an ignition circuit.

In testimony whereof I hereuntoaffix my signature.

' WILLIAM H. TARVER. 

